Category Archives: Knitting

Makerist.com

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The Makerist.com is a digital DIY platform, that sells downloadable patterns for handcrafts: sewing; knitting; crocheting; embroidery; quilting and patchwork. The platform was brought to my attention by a designer posting about it in the Designer group on Ravelry. I liked the look of the webpage and decided to fill in the application form to sell on Makerist. You can apply to sell both patterns and video tutorials. Here is the link to the application, if you are interested: docs.google.com

“Makerist was founded in 2013 in Berlin, Germany by Axel Heinz and Amber Riedl and is the market leader in Europe for digital patterns and e-learning classes.” You can read more about them here. In their mission statement, they write: “Our goal is to motivate more people to become makers and artists by offering inspiration from the creative community as well as concrete skills and tools to just start making”. The platform has a German website, a French website and an American website. You will find my patterns on the American website, since I only have a few patterns translated into German and none translated into French: www.makerist.com.

I received a very positive response from Sarah Gillot, together with a very professional pdf, packed with information called: “Makerist. Crafting made simple. Join Us! A simple guide to becoming a designer”. I knew that it would be best to upload a large batch, so I have uploaded 50 pattern, for now. The uploading process was detailed and a bit time consuming, but with practice, I could do so at a quicker speed. I am pleased to say that I have sold my first patterns on Makerist.

You will also find my digital knitting patterns on these platforms:

Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/stores/linda-marveng

LoveCrafts: www.lovecrafts.com

MakingThings: patterns.makingthingsapp.com

Annie’s: www.anniescatalog.com

Deep South Fibers (for retailers): www.deepsouthfibers.com

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Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Prescott Pullover

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The Prescott Pullover was designed for Interweave Knits Fall 2018, or to be precise Museion was my chosen name. I held a KAL in my Ravelry group last autumn and the pullover received the nickname Mr Prescott, after the former British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. More than 50 knitters had the company of Mr Prescott, the sweater that is, and it was the most-knit pattern from 2018 from Interweave. It was returned in time for the photoshoot and I choose to photograph the pullover on Emma Ross wearing cream silk slacks with it. I knew I wanted the stones next to the beach at Vollen as the background to match the colour of the design. The Prescott Pullover is knitted in the stunning Acadia from the The Fibre Co. Sissel Fylling did Em’s hair & make up styling, while the jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. These brilliant photos were taken by Eivind Røhne by the Oslofjord Museum in late May.

The Prescott Pullover emulates intricate iron- and stonework found on historic university buildings. This professional and sleek pullover features soft cabled bell sleeves, and the side ribbing gives it a body-hugging silhouette. The design is worked from the bottom up in pieces, and it is finished with a cozy turtleneck.

The sample shown is size Medium with a bust circumference of 99 cm/39” with + 13 cm/5” ease on Em. The Fibre Company, Acadia yarn is made of 60% merino wool, 20% baby alpaca, 20% silk and comes in 50 gram skeins with 133 meters/145 yards. The sample is knitted in Mountain Ash with a gauge of 24 sts and 30 rows in Stockinette stitch using 4 mm/US 6 needles measuring 10 cm/4” square.

The pullover is worked in pieces and seamed. A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches. The back and front stitch counts assume 104 stitches between markers for cable. The sleeve stitch counts assume 54 stitches between markers for cable. During shaping, if there are not enough stitches to work a complete cable crossing, work the stitches of the partial cable as they appear.

Finally, here is a photograph of the back. The stunning cable is designed by Devorgilla. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in Familien at a later date, while the English pattern is available on Ravelry and LoveCrafts.

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Devona Knitted by Siret

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Estonian test knitter Siret took these gorgeous photos of her daughter wearing Devona, knitted in the original Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje pelsullgarn/pelt wool yarn in 2118 Olivengrønn. On her Ravelry project page Siret, aka kollane, writes: “Sølje yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk was once again an excellent choice for knitting and I was not disappointed”. This is actually the first vest that Siret has knitted; “Devona is an amazing vest with two different patterns that divide it into two exciting knitting parts. The Honeycomb pattern is a little time consuming but definitely worth it”. Siret lives with her family at Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia, in the Baltic Sea. She and her model daughter …”chose an old forge as the backdrop for shooting, because the vest reminds me of old times when the vest was worn much often”.

Siret made the vest for herself in size Medium with a bust measurement of 98 cm/38.5″. The only modification she made was work “5 sets of short rows on both pieces – I finished Honeycomb pattern and wraped and turned after two sts”. I have included an advice on short rows in the pattern. You can also find Siret on Instagram as siretsini, where you can see more of her stunning projects and photos! Thank you ever so much for test knitting and these amazing photos, Siret & daughter!

Named after the Goddess of the Rivers of Devon is this vest with textures running into each other at the center. One half is in a twisted rib while the other is honeycomb, divided by a spine of rib. The vest ends in garter stitch bands topped with a soft I-cord bind off. Devona is knitted in the bouncy Sølje Pelsull from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk with a 24 stitches and 32 rows gauge in stockinette stitch using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle over 10 cm/4″ square.

The vest or sleeveless sweater or shell if you like, comes in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust measurement of 86 to 125 cm/33.75 to 49.25″. You can order a yarn kit with the pattern in English or Norwegian from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The Norwegian and English pattern are both available from my Ravelry Store and on LoveCrafts.

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Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Vela

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The next set of photos I will show you is of the sweater Vela with cowl. I knew I wanted model Emma Ross to wear this set with a pair of pencil trousers, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, and that I wanted some sailboats or yachts in the background. I brief brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne, who suggested this backdrop at the marina at Vollen. We had our base at the Oslofjord Museum at Vollen in Asker, outside of Oslo, during our photoshoot at the end of May.

Sideways pullover in an eyelet pattern with a center join to enable it to hang straight like a sail or Vela – Italian for sail. Oversized body with narrow sleeves to minimize the volume. Vela ends in a round neck with ribbing. Dress it up with a cowl, that can be worn once or twice around your neck. Perfect for summer, knitted in a lovely cotton mix yarn called Hempathy from Elsebeth Lavold with a crisp stitch definition.

Pullover is knitted sideways, so work a larger size if you want a longer version. Adjust sleeve length to fit you. Each body part is knitted in two pieces and bound off using 3 needles for a center join. A circular needle is used to accommodate the large stitch number. Vela is knitted with the yarn held double throughout using a 5 mm/US 8 and a gauge of 18 sts and 20 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

Em is wearing size XS/S, with a bust measurement of 120 cm/47.25″ with + 34 cm/13.5″ ease. As it is an oversized sweater I suggest the following ease: + 28-38 cm/11-15″. I have graded the sweater in two more sizes: M/L and XL/2XL, with these bust measurements: 132 and 144 cm/52 and 56.75″.

The lovely yarn was given to me by Elsebeth Lavold herself, the first 10 balls that is, when she and her husband drove past our house last summer during their summer holiday. The second bag of balls I received from agent Thomas Kvist, House of Hobbies, who distributes the yarn in Scandinavia. He was kind enough to send me 10 more balls so that I could complete the sweater and make the large cowl. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien in issue number 17, on sale the 19th of August, while the English pattern is available on Ravelry and on LoveCrafts.

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Bell Jacket Pattern Released

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I have released both the Norwegian and the English version of the Bell Jacket, an old pattern that was first published in my Norwegian book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” by Cappelen Damm in 2012, on Ravelry. The pattern has been revised and checked by my technical editor Barbara Khouri, who also made a schematic drawing for it. I choose to have new pictures taken for the pattern release during my last photoshoot in May, where I had two models: Emma Ross and Kaja Kvernbakken. The multi talented Kaja is a former editor, designer, novelist and one of the few Norwegian technical editors. In addition she has been modelling for years and years, ever since she was working as a designer for the Norwegian yarn company Du Store Alpakka. Kaja is wearing my Bell Jacket with a pair of pirate trousers, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, brilliantly photographed next to the corten steel wall by Eivind Røhne.

The Canterbury Bells stitch pattern cover this straight jacket with v-neck shaping and short sleeves. A number of extra stitches are cast on and then decreased to create the bells with their voluminous shadows. Hence the stitch pattern is stretchy and knitted loose to create a sculptural effect. A wide frontband in stockinette stitch frames the fronts and is made to hang loose. The Bell Jacket is knitted in the lovely silk like Tencel 8/2 by Valley Yarns in two colors to make a melange shade with one strand of each held together throughout.

Sizes S (M, L, XL)
Shown in size Small.
Skill level: Experienced

Finished measurements
Bust (with frontbands): 96 (104, 112, 120) cm/37.75 (41, 44, 47)“
Length: 53 (53, 56, 56) cm/21 (21, 22, 22)”
Sleeve length: 22 cm/8.5”

Yarn: Valley Yarns Tencel 8/2 (100% Lyocell, 454 g/1 lb, 3072 m/3360 yds). Sample is knitted in Sienna and Pompeii with 1 strand of each color held together throughout.
Sienna: 1 (1, 1, 1) cone; 1576 (1725, 1880, 2029) m/1724 (1886, 2219) yds.
Pompeii: 1 (1, 1, 1) cone; 1576 (1725, 1880, 2029) m/1724 (1886, 2219) yds.
Or in one color: 3152 (3450, 3760, 4058) m/3447 (3773, 4112, 4438) yds.
Note: Jacket is knitted with 2 strands held together throughout pattern.
https://www.yarn.com/products/valley-yarns-8-2-tencel
Or another light 4-ply/fingering yarn held single and half the meterage/yardage.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 straight needles.
2 sets of 2.5 mm/US 1.5 circular needle (80 cm/32”) for the frontband.
Or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 29 sts and 38 rows in st st using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and 2 strands of yarn held together measures 10 cm/4” square.
31 sts and 40 rows in st st using 2.5 mm/US 1.5 needle and 2 strands of yarn held together measure 10 cm/4” square.
23 sts and 32 rows in Canterbury Bells using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and 2 strands of yarn held together measures 10 cm/4” square.

Notes: The jacket is knitted in pieces and seamed for the ultimate fit. The front band is knitted in three parts before they are all joined, to even out the v-neck shaping.

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Norsk Strikkedesign – Upcoming Book: Damara

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The summer heat has arrived in Ørje, Norway too, but I am still revealing knitwear patterns for the autumn. Damara is the last of my designs, especially made for Norsk Strikkedesign/Norwegian Knit Design book that will be published early in October by Cappelen Damm, where I contribute 5 projects and take part together with 5 other designers: Arne & Carlos, Kari Hestnes, Bente Presterud, Birger Berge and editor Iselin Hafseld. Below is the preliminary cover, while we are waiting for the next version. We all do hope it will be bought by foreign publishers and translated. My Damara is also knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the Burgundy shade by my sample knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9. Michael took these photographs of me wearing it in early February, just before I delivered the samples to the publisher.

Named after the fertility Goddess is this asymmetrical skirt with a seeded rib check pattern, that can also be worn as a poncho. The high waist in ribbing is loose so that the skirt can be worn around your hips or folded down, both with a belt to hold it up. Damara is knitted in pieces with a side seam in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Tinde. The ribbing is worked last so you can easily adjust it to your preference.

I am wearing size M/L, but have graded the skirt/poncho in sizes XS/S and XL/2XL too, with a waist (top band width) of 70 (82, 94) cm/27.5 (32.25, 37)”. The rib top band can easily be adjusted according to preference.

The skirt is made in two pieces, top down with shaping for bottom. Just like the other designs for the book, it is knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle and with a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

Iselin suggested that we photograph the skirt as a poncho too at the professional photoshoot, so you will have to wait to see how it looks as a poncho. But above you see me wearing the skirt together with the Thia jacket. My test knitters have made some gorgeous outfits that I look forward to showing you after the book has been launched.

For more details, support me on Patreon and get access to this plus 28 other patron only blogposts, including 4 videos and other rewards such a free monthly pattern: www.patreon.com/lindamarveng.

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Norsk Strikkedesign – Upcoming Book: Cian Beret

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Cian Beret is one more of my designs, especially made for Norsk Strikkedesign/Norwegian Knit Design book that will be published early in October by Cappelen Damm, where I contribute 5 projects and take part together with 5 other designers: Arne & Carlos, Kari Hestnes, Bente Presterud, Birger Berge and editor Iselin Hafseld. Below is the preliminary cover, while we are waiting for the next version. We all do hope it will be bought by foreign publishers and translated. My Cian Beret is also knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the Natural Grey shade by my sample knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9. Michael took these photographs of me wearing it in early February, just before I delivered the samples to the publisher.

The Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein. The beret is knitted using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle with a 21 stitches and 30 rows gauge in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square.

Above you see me wearing Cian Beret, Cian Cowl, Cian Pullover and Thia, all designs made for the book. The cable brim on the beret is worked sideways, so the cast on and bind off are joined together. Then the brim is picked up and worked in the round in rib with increases. The pull is worked in stockinette stitch with decreases to the end. Adjust the width of the brim by removing or adding a cable repeat or rows in ribbing if preferred.

A moss cable adorns the brim of this beret to accompany the Cian pullover. Named Cian after the Irish God who rules over love magic.Ribbing holds the pull up, which is knitted in stockinette stitch. Wear the beret tilted to one side of the head.

The beret comes in one size with a head circumference of 53 cm/20.75″ (fits 55 to 58 cm/21.75 to 22.75″). Next out in this series is the Damara skirt.

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Norsk Strikkedesign – Upcoming Book: Cian Pullover & Cowl

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Cian Pullover & Cowl are two more designs, especially made for Norsk Strikkedesign/Norwegian Knit Design that will be published early in October by Cappelen Damm, where I contribute 5 projects and take part together with 5 other designers: Arne & Carlos, Kari Hestnes, Bente Presterud, Birger Berge and editor Iselin Hafseld. Below is the preliminary cover, while we are waiting for the next version. We all do hope it will be bought by foreign publishers and translated. My Cian Pullover and the Cian Cowl – one of two accessories, I made – are both knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the Natural Grey shade by my sample knitter Kristin Nygård (sweater) and Grete Jensen (cowl). Yes, the cowl did come later. I decided upon the three main garments for the book first, then the accessories. In early February, just before delivery of the garments to the publisher, Michael photographed me wearing the sweater in size medium and the cowl (one size) in my yarn bunker & his photographic studio.

Named Cian after the Irish God who rules over love magic, is this long a-line pullover. Three central Moss cables, framed by double seed stitch, adorn the center of the body which ends in a vent. Cian is crowned with an I-cord decoration around its crew neck. The pullover is knit in pieces in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde Pelsull made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein. 

  Both designs are knitted using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle with a 21 stitches and 30 rows gauge in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square. I found the gorgeous cables in Norah Gaughan’s inspiring Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I placed three at the center of the front and the back for balance and one on the sleeve. I decided to frame them using a twisted stitch and a panel of double seed stitch.

The sweater is worked in pieces and seamed. The rib on the body is not seamed at the bottom to create vents. As you can see in the photo above. The sweater is graded in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 cm to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″.

After Kristin had knitted the pieces, I did the finishing and decided to add a decorative I-cord band at the neckband as a divider between the cable pattern and the rib.

Here you can see a detail of the front and the cowl. I cannot remember what I was saying at the time, but it was probably something to do with what Michael should zoom in on. Next out in this series is the Cian Beret.

For a more detailed post, support me on patron and get access to 26 patron only posts including 4 videos plus rewards: www.patreon.com/lindamarveng.

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Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Bell Jacket

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I am ready to begin to show you the photos we took from our base at the Oslofjord Museum at Vollen in Asker, outside of Oslo at the end of May. First out the Bell Jacket, this is an old pattern that was first published in my Norwegian book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” by Cappelen Damm in 2012. I want to present a new model, chosen for the occasion since I had so many designs to photograph this time I choose to book both Emma Ross and Kaja Kvernbakken. The multi talented Kaja is a former editor, designer, novelist and one of the few Norwegian technical editors. In addition she has been modelling for years and years, ever since she was working as a designer for the Norwegian yarn company Du Store Alpakka. You will find her face on several Norwegian knitting books and magazines. So here she is wearing my Bell Jacket with a pair of pirate trousers, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, plus ankel boots by Monica Stålvang, brilliantly photographed next to the corten steel wall by Eivind Røhne.

The Bell Jacket was photographed again since I am releasing the pattern as an individual pattern and because I wanted to sell the Norwegian pattern for reuse to the magazine Familien. I have received several requests for the pattern in English, but knew I had to revise the pattern and have my technical editor to check it as well draw a schematic drawing for it, hence it has taken a lot longer than anticipated.

The jacket is knitted in Valley Yarns, Tencel 8/2 made of 100% Lyocell that comes on 454 gram/1 pound cones with 3072 meters/3360 yards. The sample is knitted in Sienna and Pompeii with 1 strand of each color held together throughout using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and a 2.5 mm/US 1.5 needle for the front band. The gauge is 29 stitches and 38 rows in stockinette stitch using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle with 2 strands held together measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

Kaja is wearing the smallest size with a 96 cm/37.75″ bust circumference. I have added a size extra large and done a few adjustments to the pattern as well as rewriting the pattern into my current pattern writing style. I loved seeing this jacket on Kaja! I am so proud to have such a fabulous team to work with! Thank you!

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Norsk Strikkedesign – Upcoming Book: Thia

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I am taking part in a Norwegian book, called Norsk Strikkedesign/Norwegian Knit Design, together with 5 other designers, all with 5 designs each, that will be published early in October by Cappelen Damm (who also published my knitting book in Norwegian and sold it to a Finnish publisher). My former mentor Iselin Hafseld, who is also the editor and a participating designer, asked me at the end of last summer. When we all had agreed, the publisher’s editor Anne-Berit Tuft revealed the other 4 designers taking part: Arne & Carlos, Kari Hestnes, Bente Presterud and Birger Berge. I was thrilled with the company I am in, and that Iselin would be in charge of the photoshoot. The book was Anne-Berit’s idea and she suggested it should be launched before the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, where Norway is the Guest of Honour this year. We all hope that this will increase the possibility of it being sold by the Cappelen Damm Agency to foreign publishers, hence translated.

Above is the cover, the second version that is, and we are eagerly awaiting the next one. The photographer, you will recognize I belive, is Eivind Røhne. Below is my Thia jacket knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk but hand dyed in Mikkel Rev/Michael the Fox (a child’s rhyme) shade in red/orange/pink by Laila Henriksen of Værbitt/Weather bitten in Oslo.

All my designs are made in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde pelt wool since Cappelen Damm preferred Norwegian yarn or at least yarns that are easily available in Norway. I also wanted to take advantage of the offer I had received several months back from yarn dyer and shop owner Laila Henriksen, who runs Værbitt/Weather bitten in Oslo. She hand dyes on Tinde and I had already fallen in love with her Mikkel Rev/Michael the Fox. Laila was delighted to take part in this project and dyed Mikkel Rev for a cardigan for me, especially. I just had to knit this one myself, while I asked my fantastic sample knitters: Grete Jenssen – aka ma9 on Ravelry – a turbo knitter and Kristin Nygård – aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry to make the remaining 4 projects: a pullover, cowl and beret with the same cable and a skirt. All are knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 needles and a 21 stitches and 30 rows gauge per 10 cm/4″ square.

My initial idea was to make an outfit, including a beret and a skirt. I asked Laila for colour suggestion to go with her Mikkel Rev, she suggested Burgundy and Natural grey. I agreed and thought Burgundy looked best with it, so I decided to use it for the skirt, while the pullover and accessories are all made in Natural grey. As I did the finishing of the garments, I was no longer convinced they all fitted together, hence I suggested to Iselin to photograph the skirt and cardigan together.

Thia is a sweet fitted cardigan with a small extra rib above the waist, cables adorning the center framed by double seed stitch. The lower part is all in stockinette stitch to allow the beautiful hand-dyed Mikkel Rev on Tinde pelt wool by Værbitt shine with its colours and depth. Thia ends in a large collar that can be folded down.

Cappelen Damm wanted all the garments for women in size medium, so above you see me wearing Thia with more ease than intended. The pattern is graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference (without front bands 2 cm/0.75″) from 84 to 126 cm/33 to 51.5″.

I invited a small number of my test knitters with sponsored yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk to check all my 5 book patterns early this spring and I look forward to showing you their wonderful results! But first I will show you the Cian Pullover, Cian Cowl & Cian Beret and Damara Skirt.

If you support me on Patreon, you can read on and see more photos of this. Take a look here: www.patreon.com/lindamarveng

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